Within the framework of the European Union HORIZON2020 projects, TABIT participated in the “Improvement of Mediterranean Greenhouses” (AZMUD) project, collaborating with stakeholders from five different countries. The project aimed to reduce the cost and increase the efficiency of heating systems by using local joule heating for plant roots based on electrically conductive plastics integrated into standard soilless systems, adapting and optimizing them for ultra-low energy drip irrigation. Additionally, it sought to increase the use of wastewater under soilless greenhouse conditions to reduce overall water and energy consumption.
TABIT contributed to this process by leveraging its technological expertise and experience from the Smart Village project—the world’s first smart village—to adapt smart farming systems to low-tech Mediterranean greenhouses.
Under the leadership of TABIT’s R&D Director Orhan Kurt, expertise in agricultural engineering and technology was applied to develop farmer-accessible technologies and integrate new technologies into existing greenhouses. These efforts aimed to reduce operational costs for greenhouse farmers.
The project was successfully completed, and the advancements and innovative methods developed have been disseminated, marking an important step toward the future of rural areas. TABIT made a significant contribution to improving Mediterranean greenhouses and enhancing farmers’ economic capacity. Together with all project stakeholders, TABIT demonstrated a successful collaboration that created positive impacts for farmers.